Chapter 17
Support and Movement
Why are skeletons often used to scare people on Halloween?
Many people associate a skeleton with a dead person, but
your skeletal system is quite alive and it is an extremely
important body system. Why is your skeleton so important?
You probably know that your bones provide support and
structure for your body. Did you also know that your bones
and muscles protect your vital organs, and allow you to move?
Did you know that bones produce blood cells and store
important minerals that your body needs? Your jaw, neck,
arms, feet, and other skeletal/muscle partners work like
simple machines to accomplish daily tasks. After reading this
chapter, you will see that the human systems of support and
movement can do more than scare people on Halloween!
- Why are bones so important to the human body,
and how many are there? - How do muscles move bones?
- Why is the human body like a machine?